A system, method, and article for delivering an antimicrobial agent into the lumen of a trans-dermal catheter are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises an elongate member configured for insertion into a lumen of a catheter, and the elongate member containing an antimicrobial. In the alternative an antimicrobial agent can be placed on an interior surface of a retaining ring.

Invasive medical devices including a substantially non-eluting antimicrobial treatment are disclosed. One or more external and/or internal surfaces of the medical device include a substantially non-eluting copper-coated surface that assists in preventing microbial colonization of the coated surface. This in turn reduces the incidence of infection to the patient originating from the medical device. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly is disclosed and comprises an elongate catheter tube that defines at least one lumen, at least one extension leg including a luer connector, and a bifurcation hub including at least one fluid passageway that provides fluid communication between the extension leg and the lumen. A substantially non-eluting copper coating is disposed on a surface of at least one of the lumen, the extension leg, the luer connector, and the fluid passageway. The coating is applied via an electroless deposition process. A water-shed coating is disposed on the copper coating.

The disclosed tamper-evident closure (100) encloses a medical access device, such as a vascular access device (200), such that it will be visibly apparent if the medical access device contained in the tamper-evident closure becomes exposed. The tamper-evident closure cannot be reapplied over the medical access device in a way to look the same as it did prior to exposing the medical access device. The tamper-evident closures comprise a holding cavity (110), a securing mechanism (160), and an apparent release. The disclosed tamper-evident closures are well suited for securing a medical access device that has an access point for delivering fluid to a patient or removing fluid from a patient.

A disclosed antimicrobial medical device includes a fluid transfer device configured to couple between a patient and a fluid reservoir, a fluid pathway extending through the fluid transfer device, a first electrode coupled to the fluid transfer device, and a second electrode coupled to the fluid transfer device and spaced apart from the first electrode. The first electrode includes a first conductive material and the second electrode includes a second conductive material different from the first conductive material. The second electrode is configured to form a galvanic cell with the first electrode.

The disclosure provides a method for preventing infection and microbial ingress in medical device connections between peritoneal dialysis transfer sets and peritoneal dialysis catheters. A peritoneal dialysis transfer set includes a male connector with a distal tip and a recess at the distal tip configured to deliver and confine an antimicrobial composition into solution within a cavity formed by the recess. The surface of the recess includes an antimicrobial composition. In certain implementations the antimicrobial composition contains chlorhexidine acetate.

Caps for disinfecting medical devices, and methods of disinfecting medical device using the caps, are disclosed. In general, one aspect disclosed features a cap for disinfecting a medical device, the cap comprising: a cylindrical receiving portion having an opening configured to receive a medical device, the cylindrical receiving portion comprising internal threads configured to mate with external threads of the medical device; disinfectant disposed within the cylindrical receiving portion; a cylindrical stem disposed longitudinally within the cylindrical receiving portion; and an annular sponge disposed about the cylindrical stem and contacting the disinfectant.

This invention concerns improved single use caps or covers for vascular access devices such as needlefree connectors that are used, for example, in intravenous administration sets and extension sets. Removal of a single use cap or cover according to the invention from a vascular access device destroys the cap such that the cap cannot be reused. Said single use caps or covers will help ensure compliance with infection prevention protocols in healthcare settings, which will assist in reducing incidences of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), particularly catheter-related blood stream infections. Assemblies and kits including said caps or covers, for example, IV administration and extension sets that include one or more needlefree connectors, as well as methods for using said caps or covers, are also described.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for cleaning and sealing threaded connector ports are disclosed. An exemplary cleaning system includes a basin and cleaning apparatus including a sealing connector, an alignment peg, and an outer foam sleeve having a tubular portion. The sealing connector includes a body portion having a gripping portion, an internal thread cleaning portion, and a longitudinal axis. Another cleaning apparatus also includes a cap cleaning end having a cap cavity and an inner foam pad. Another system includes a threaded connector port and a cleaning apparatus including an alignment peg, a disposable foam platform, and a handle body, which includes a grip portion and a pair of cleaning arms. The cleaning arms and foam pads are adapted to engage the female threads of a threaded connector port. A sealing apparatus includes a disposable liner having locator flaps and a placement tool having a handle and locator fingers.

A device for connection to a medical connector, the device includes an outer cap, an inner cap and a peelable seal. The outer cap configured to define a chamber to contain an absorbent material and disinfectant or antimicrobial agent. The outer cap including one or more threads adapted to engage with a female luer connector. The inner cap including one or more thread-tabs adapted to engage a male luer connector. The peelable seal prevents the disinfectant or the antimicrobial agent from exiting the chamber.

A disinfecting cap accepts a needleless injection site to apply an antiseptic agent. The cap includes a breakable seal located in a chamber between the proximal and distal portions so as to be spaced away from the opening. The cap body may include a compliant wall that deforms when a needleless injection site is inserted into the opening to removably hold the cap on the needleless injection site. In lieu of a compliant wall, a flexible skirt may extend from the cap body into the proximal portion, so that when a needleless injection site is inserted into the opening, the flexible skirt engages the outer diameter of the needleless injection site to removably hold the cap on the needleless injection site. A carrier strip may be used, wherein each of the plurality of disinfecting caps is removably attached at its proximal end to the carrier strip.